An operations manager finds relief from her depression with the help of psilocybin, the primary psychoactive component of “magic mushrooms.” A veteran conquers his post-traumatic stress disorder through therapy using MDMA, a synthetic compound known on the street as “ecstasy” or “molly.” A stay-at-home mom tries LSD, otherwise known as acid, for her anxiety.
Nearly every day, such stories appear about the healing potential of psychedelic drugs.
These stories reflect a so-called “psychedelic renaissance” of the moment — a new interest in the drugs most often associated with 1960s counterculture but now put to therapeutic rather than recreational ends.
A handful of states, spearheaded by Oregon and Colorado, are leading the way for the legalized use of various naturally occurring psychedelic compounds. In 2020, Oregonians passed Measure 109, which legalized the supervised use of psilocybin and established a novel system for its manufacturing and consumption.
And in 2022, Coloradans passed Proposition 122, the Natural Medicine Health Act, which created a psilocybin program similar to Oregon’s. So far, Oregon and Colorado are the only states that have enacted such programs, but many other states are considering bills that would do so.
